“The lady wept, but answered not for some time. At last she said, looking into mother’s face, which seemed like that of an angel--‘I feel your appeal, dear lady, and I will answer it. Your husband has indeed put my life in peril, by bringing me here; but he did it in the discharge of duty, and in ignorance of my name and character. He has at least given me safety, and I owe him thanks. I owe you, also, a debt of gratitude, and it shall be repaid to your child. You know my power with the emperor is small, for I have been a friend to Poland, and this has almost brought me into disgrace at court. But fear not. If Kathinka should ever need a friend, let her apply to Lodoiska.’ “Such were the exact words of the princess. Our mother soon after died, and in a few days I contrived the lady’s escape,--which was happily effected. Father never spoke to me on the subject. He must have known it, and approved of it, but perhaps he wished not to take an active part in the matter.” “This is very interesting,” said Alexis; “but what has it to do with the sable skins?” “A great deal--they must go to the princess, and she must make a market for them at court.” “And who is to take them to her?” “You--you perhaps--or perhaps I.” “You? This is indeed a girl’s romance. However, there can be no harm in getting sable skins, for they bring the best price.” After much further conversation between the brother and sister, they parted for the night; and the next day, with a father’s blessing and a sister’s tenderest farewell, the young hunter set out on his long and arduous adventures. (_To be continued._) [Illustration: Wolf] The Wolf that pretended to be robbed. A wolf once made complaint that he had been robbed, and charged the theft upon his neighbor the fox. The case came on for trial before a monkey, who was justice of the peace among the quadrupeds in those parts. The parties did not employ lawyers, but chose to plead their cause themselves. When they had been fully heard, the judge, assuming the air of a magistrate, delivered his sentence as follows:-- “My worthy friends and neighbors,--I have heard your case, and examined it attentively; and my judgment is, that you both be made to pay a fine; for you are both of bad character, and if you do not deserve to be punished now, it is very likely you will deserve to be so very soon. That I have good grounds for this decree, is sufficiently evident by the fact, that Mr. Wolf’s jaws are even now stained with blood, and I can see a dead chicken sticking out of Sir Fox’s pocket, notwithstanding the air of injured innocence which he wears. And beside, one who gets an evil reputation can think it no hardship if he is occasionally made to suffer, for a crime he did not commit.”